Excellent supercapacitor and sensor performance of robust cobalt phosphinate ferrocenyl organic framework materials achieved by intrinsic redox and structure properties.

A new redox active coordination polymer [Co(H2O)2(Fc(PHOO)2)·2H2O]n (Fc = ferrocene) was synthesized by the diffusion method and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Phosphinate fragments formed infinite chains connected through ferrocene fragments to 2D PCP associated with cobalt atoms. Additional strong hydrogen bonding via the participation of coordinated and lattice water molecules resulted in the formation of a 3D network. The polymer exhibited water-induced crystal-to-amorphous transformation with chromotropism, as confirmed by spectroscopic techniques, elemental analysis, TGA and XRPD. The explosion of the amorphous phase [Co(Fc(PHOO)2)]n to form water vapor readily led to its conversion into the initial crystalline [Co(H2O)2(Fc(PHOO)2)·2H2O]n with a reverse change of color. The dehydrated form of the polymer selectively sorbed water and could be used as a material with the function of an express dehydrator. Moreover, a modified electrode could qualitatively determine the water content in the solvent at a concentration of 0.05%. Both hydrated and dehydrated forms were evaluated as electrode materials for supercapacitors. The [Co(Fc(PHOO)2)]n (dehydrated form) electrode exhibited high specific capacitance and excellent cycling stability. Its maximum specific capacitance was 2517 F g-1 at a current density of 2 A g-1, and the specific capacitance retention was about 90.1% after 1000 cycles.

Zn and Co redox active coordination polymers as efficient electrocatalysts.

New redox active 1D helical coordination polymers M(fcdHp) (M(ii) = Zn(1), Co(2)) have been obtained by utilizing the 1,1'-ferrocenylenbis(H-phosphinic) acid (H2fcdHp) ligand and Zn or Co nitrate salts. Complexes 1 and 2 are isomorphic, crystallizing in the chiral space groups P4122 and P4322, respectively. Their redox, electrocatalytic and other properties are described. These compounds incorporated into carbon paste electrodes and exhibited reversible redox reactions, arising from the ferrocenyl moiety. These coordination polymers are efficient as electrocatalysts for the reduction of protons to hydrogen. Using N,N-dimethylformamidium ([DMF(H)+]) as the acid in the acetonitrile solution, Co CP (2) displays a turnover frequency of 300 s-1, which is among the fastest rates reported for any CP electrocatalyst in CH3CN. This high rate of catalytic reaction comes at the cost of the 820-840 mV overpotential at the potential of catalysis. As the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts, the CPs exhibited in 0.5 M H2SO4 the overpotential η10 of 340 or 450 mV, onset overpotential of 220 or 300 mV (vs. RHE), Tafel slope of 110 or 120 mV dec-1, correspondingly for 1 and 2, and considerable long-term stability for the HER.